Velocimeter



- 1,620,224 March 8, 1927 W. Q PALMER VELOCIMETER Filed April 14, 1925 2 SheStS-Sheet 1 IN VEN TOR W C. Pa lm er March 8, 1927.

W. c. PALMER VELCIMETER Filed April 14. 1925 2. Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR W. C. Palmer BV MW @M A TTORNE Y Patented Mar. 8, 1927.

UNETED STATES WILLIAM C. PALMER, OF DAVENPORT, IOWA.

VELOCIMET-ER.

Application tiled April 14, 1923.

Serial No. 632,121.

(GRANTED UNDER THE ACT lGF MARCH 3, 1883; 22' STAT. I.. 625.)

The invention described herein may be used by the Government, or any ot its oiiicers or employees in prosecution ot work tor the Government, or by any other person in the United States, without payment to me ot any royalty thereon, in accordance with the act of March 3, 1883.

The subject of this invention is a velocimeter intended for recording the velocity of a moving element and particularly the recoil and recuperator mechanism ot a gun.

1n the present invention 1 accomplish the object sought by recording the vibrations ot' a vibratory element ot a predetermined beat upon a record element moving with a liXed ratio with respect to the movement of the element, the movement ot which is to be measured.

From the foregoing it is evident that, knowing the ratio between the movement ot the record strip and the moving` element and the rate ot beat ot the vibrating element, by 'measuring the distance between the crests of the waves ot vibration, the time it took the record element to pass through that distance is known; from which it is a simple matter to calculate the distance passed through by the moving element during' the same space ot time.

iVith the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention resides in the novel arrangement and combination ot parts and in the details ot construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed may be made within the scope ot what is claimed without departing from the spirit ot' the invention.

Fig. 1 is a plan view oi a velocimeter constructed. in accordance with my invention, the vibratory element released. and shown in tensioned position in dotted lines;

Fig. Z is a side elevation;

Fig. 3 is a central longitudinal section:

Fig. et is a transverse section through the drum and pulley;

Fig. 5 is a sec-tion taken on the line 5 5 ot Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a section on the line 6 6 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 7 is a more or less diagrammatic view showing the application ot my improved velocimeter to a gun.

Referring to the drawings by numerals of reference;

ln carrying ont my invention I prefer to provide a base 1 formed with a compartment 2 tor the reception ot a record strip roll 2, which strip is led from said compartment under a spring 3 pivoted in a bracket 4 and iitted with an adjusting screw 5 by means ot which the tension ot the spring upon the record strip may be varied.

From one end ot the base arise brackets G and 7 in which is journaled av shaft S having a drum 9 loosely mounted thereon on which the record strip is adapted to be wound, the strip being held to the drum by any suitable clamping bar 10 held in place by the wing nut 10. Secured on the shatt adjacent one head of the drum is a ratchet wheel 11 engaged by a pawl 12 which mounted on the drum and held in engagement with the ratchet wheel, conveniently by means ot a spring 13. Secured to the shaft is a pulley 111 about which a cord, 14', may be given a few turns both ends of the cord being attached to the moving element the velocity ot movement ot which is to be measured, the cord being led from the pulley in opposite d'rections so that oscillation ot the moving element will cause oscillation of the pulley. A guide 15 may be attached to the base adjacent the pulley for the purpose of properly guiding the cord;

From the `foregoing it will be seen that as the pulley rotates counterclockwise, as viewed in Fig. 6, the pawl will ride over the ratchet wheel and no movement ot the drum will be had. lVhen. however. the pulley moves in opposite direction, or clockwise, the teeth ot' the ratchet wheel will come into engagement with the pawl thereby causing rotation ot' the drum with the pulley.

ln order that a wave oi' predetermined amplitude may be recorded on the strip I prefer to provide a resilient arm 16 which is suitably attached to an upwardly projecting portion of the base, and which is provided, adjacent its Vtree end. with a marker or pencil holder 18 provided with suitable means. herein shown as a coiled spring 19 and adjusting nut 20, tor holding the marker or pencil firmly against the strip. In order that the amplitude of vibration ot the resilient` arm may be regulated to a predetermined amount, a weight 21 is mounted for adjustment on the end of the arm, the method ot adjustment herein shown consisting in threading the weight on the end of the arm CII and locking itin adjusted position by a jam nut 22.

To place the arm in tension so that t-he same may vibrate at the proper time to inscribe a record on the strip, I provide suitable means for holding the arm in tension until the start of rotation of the drum, such means, as herein shown by way of illustration, consisting of a sear 23 mounted on shaft 24 journaled in the base Vand having secured thereon a projection or trip 25 which normally engages a trip plate 26 which is secured to one head of the drum.

A trigger 27 is pivotally mounted on the basetand one end is adapted for engagement With the end of the vibratory arm While the other end is formed for engagement with the sear and, when such engagement is had, the trigger holds the vibratory arm in tension in the position shown most clearly in vdotted lines in Fig. 1.

It Will now be evident that when the pulley moves in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 6 the drum Will be rotated Winding .the record strip thereon and, upon start of such rotation, the trip plate will throW the trip rocking the shaft 24 and releasing the sear 23 from engagement With the trigger 27 which Will immediately cause release of the resilient arm or vibratory element 16 which will then start vibrating at a predetermined rate causing Waves of a pre determined amplitude to be marked upon the record strip.

I claim:

l. A velocimeter, embodying a base formed With a receptacle for a record strip roll, a tension spring secured to the base adjacent the receptacle, a vibratory member carried by the base, a marker attached to the member to Contact with the record strip, means for adjusting the period of vibration of the member, a shaft journaled on the base, a pulley rigid on the shaft for reception of a cord, a guide adjacent the pulley, a drum loose on the shaft, means for attaching the recoid strip to the drum, a ratchet rigid on the shaft and adjacent the drum, a pawl on the drum to contact with the ratchet when the shaft is rotated. in one direction and rotate the drum therewith, a. sear mounted on the base, a sear trip plate carried by the drum and a trigger normally engaged by the Sear and in engagement with the vibratory member to hold the member in tension and to release the same when the drum starts to rotate.V

2. A velocimeter, embodying a base formed with a receptacle for a record strip roll, a. Vibratory member attached to the base, a marker carried by the .member in position to contact with the record strip, a shaft journaled on the base, a pulley fast on the shaft, a drum loose on the shaft, means carried by the drum for securing the record strip thereto, means carrie-d by the shaft and drum cooperating to rotate the drum with the shaft in one direction, a sear, a sear trip plate carried by the drum and a trigger connected to the base and normally held by the sear to hold the vibratory member in tension and to release the same when the sear is rocked by initial rotation of the drum.

3. A velocimeter embodying a base formed With a receptacle for a record strip roll, a vibratory member attached to the base, means for regulating the period of Vibration of said member, a marker carried by the member in position to contact with the strip, a shaft mounted on the base, a pulley secured to the shaft, a drum loose on the shaft, means carried by the shaft and drum cooperating to rotate the drum with the shaft in one :direction to move the record strip and meansA normally retaining the vibratory member in tension, saidfineans being released by initial rotation of the drum.

4. A velocimeter embodying a base formed with a receptacle for a record strip roll, a vibratory member attached to the base, means for regulating the period of vibration of the member, a marker carried by the member in position to engage the record strip, an element adapted to Vbe rotated by movement of the object, the velocity of Which is to be measured, a record strip carrying element adapted to rotate With the first mentioned element in only one direction and means normally holding tlie vibratory member under tension automatically released by initial rotation of the strip carrying element.

5. A velocimeter embodying a record strip movable at a predetermined velocity ratio with respectV to an object, the velocity of ywhose movement isto be measured and a vibratory member ofY a predetermined beat Whose vibrations are recorded on the strip and means controlled by initial movement ef the strip for releasing said vibratory inem-- ber.

6. A velocimeter embodying a record Vstrip Vmovable at a predetermined Velocity ratio with respect Ato an object, the yelocity of Whose movement is to be measured and a vibratory member adjustable to afpredetcrmined beat Whose vibrations are recorded on the strip.

WILLIAM C. PALMER. 

